South African bishop defends support of condom use

April 26, 2010

Preaching at a Protestant church in a small town near Albany, Bishop Kevin Dowling of Rustenburg, South Africa, spoke about the devastation wrought by AIDS and defended his support of condom use in preventing the disease. “It's all about trying to save some lives,” he told the congregation at the First Reformed Church of Scotia.

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The bishop needs to be reminded, too, that a condom is no guarantee against disease or pregnancy, gives a false sense of security, and thereby encourages further promiscuity. Chastity is the only guaranteed defense against std's. Chastity is about MORE than just saving lives--and why does he need to be reminded of all this by simple lay people like us?! And why was the bishop preaching at a Reformed Church in the first place? His own flock weary of his equally tired message?

Posted by: -
Apr. 26, 2010 7:25 PM ET USA

Evidently the good bishop doesn't consider the Church's mission appropriate in this context. Logic, statistics, and human psychology are apparently also irrelevant to the problem.

Posted by: -
Apr. 26, 2010 7:21 PM ET USA

"It's all about trying to save some lives"...Hmmm- I seem to vaguely recall that Christ said something along the lines of "what will it profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his own soul"... Perhaps Bishop Dowling should reflect on that, and remember that, above all, he is a SHEPHERD OF SOULS - as Adamah said, he should indeed try saving some souls.

Posted by: Mack -
Apr. 26, 2010 3:44 PM ET USA

May God have mercy on him.

Posted by: adamah -
Apr. 26, 2010 8:23 AM ET USA

How about saving some souls?

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